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May 11, 2008

G40: Twins 9, Red Sox 8

Wakefield (2.2-7-7-2-2, 74) put the Sox in an early 7-1 hole, but the bats would not give up.

In the fourth, Crisp's leadoff triple and singles from Cash, Cora and Youkilis closed the gap to 7-4. Ococ then smacked a two-run home run to right-center in the seventh to bring the Sox to within two runs, 8-6.

Aardsma did good work, holding Minnesota scoreless in the fifth and sixth. But then Timlin came on for the bottom of the seventh and served up a home run to Monroe (who had opened the Twins scoring with a three-run dong in the second). Twins 9-6. But after the first-batter bomb, Old Yeller retired the next five batters on only 11 pitches, thus probably earning another appearance or three in Tito's eyes.

Down by three and facing Nathan in the ninth, the Sox rallied. With one out, Youkilis and Lowell singled. Drew doubled over Gomez's head in center, bringing in Yook. With the tying run at second, Crisp lined the ball back at (and off) Nathan, who quickly grabbed the ball and was able to toss to third, nailing Drew, who had to hesitate before running in case the ball was caught. Lowell was able to score and the Sox trailed 9-8. With Manny batting for Cash, Ococ stole second, but Ramirez hit a routine grounder to short for the final out.

Tampa's 8-5 win over the Angels cut Boston's lead in the East to 1.5 games.

Don't you all have a feeling that Timlin or Taveras is going? I sure do. I think Hansen is ready, and he's too highly regarded to be the new Bryan Corey, shuttling back and forth. My guess is that Timlin's last hurrah has come and gone. The team is stronger with Hansen, and even the most sentimental Timlin-lovers would recognize that now.

RHP Nick BlackburnBlackburn admits that he's not feeling comfortable on the mound right now. Partly to blame is a change in his stride. Last year, the pitcher lengthened his stride and subsequently threw 44 straight scoreless innings for Triple-A Rochester. Somehow over the course of the winter, that stride shortened. Blackburn is trying to relocate it in his bullpen sessions and side work. ... In his lone relief appearance against Boston last season, Blackburn gave up four runs in just one inning.

I remember the last Wake outing people were all over this guy's nuts. I said yes he is good SOMETIMES, but I know what to expect the next couple games. This is what I was saying. I am really sorry for my comment here but, Wakefield pitches like a softball pitcher. Its relative. A ball going that slow is going to get hit more than it isn't by professionals.

It's one game. not the end of the world. It's just one of the few games that I get on HD. I hate wasting it on this fucking guy. At least lugo is out. But i am against Cora over Lowrie. I say let the same thing happen to Lowrie that happened to Ellsbury. The guy comes up, does awesome, let the confidence build by not sending him down and you get a new starter.

I don't care if wake retires the rest of the game. You dont let the other team score 5 in an inning. Now the offense has to do something. Which it often times does. So this Wake game and last he will average out.

These guys are what I call good. If Wakefield hadnt allowed all those runs then this would be a blow out. If he only could have kept it an average outing. I am really ok with Wake giving up 4 every game.

I do need to say this, In every Wake game I am ostracized for my dislike of wakefield. Often times it is with numbers that you all are more than willing to give. I do want to make the point that I am never happy with a wake start even when he is good.

Did Lowrie get sent down? I would assume that with Cory being traded that Jedi would be taking the shuttle, but if they haven't activated Casey, are they waiting on seeing how Lugo is going to be and keeping the Jedi on hand just in case Lugo can't go the next few games?

yeah, I saw the replay at the time. It was awfully close, I think he could have caught it, but if he had it would've be quite remarkable. what kind of jump did he have on that? Was he stuck on that or just didn't gauge it perfectly?

So, picked a good time to come in.Saw the 1st inning, then went over to see Mom, who had just gotten home from a daytrip.Came home in time to catch that last inning, and enjoyed it immensly.Now repeat, plz.

MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers yanked Eric Gagne from the closer's role on Sunday after the reliever called his latest performance embarrassing and said he didn't feel he deserved to pitch the ninth anymore.

Manager Ned Yost said he read Gagne's comments and will use a closer by committee approach while Gagne takes what Yost called a "mental break."